Michigan
‘22 beautiful years’: Family mourns University of Michigan student who died skiing in Aspen
ANN ARBOR, MI – Eileen Sheahan brought a joyful energy into any room she entered, her family and sorority sisters said.
The 22-year-old University of Michigan senior had a smile that lit up an entire room, said her aunt Kathy O’Brien Caplice. Her Alpha Phi sorority sister Megan Martz called that same smile infectious, while another sister Grace Aretakis called it unforgettable.
Even after Sheahan died Saturday, Jan. 27, while skiing in Aspen, Colorado, her joyful energy still lingers, said her parents Terrence “TJ” and Patti Sheahan.
“We feel blessed to have had 22 beautiful years with our cherished daughter and comforted at this time to feel her presence and love all around us,” her parents told MLive/The Ann Arbor News.
Read more: University of Michigan student dies while skiing in Aspen
Sheahan, an Evanston, Illinois native, died when she hit a tree while skiing at the Aspen Highlands resort, Pitkin County Medical Examiner Dr. Steven Ayers confirmed.
Sheahan is survived by her parents, three siblings Erin, Margaret and Michael, and her extended O’Brien and Sheahan families.
Eileen Sheahan (middle left) with her siblings Michael (far left), Erin and Margaret. Photo provided by Sheahan’s aunt Renee Formell.Renee Formell
Her grandfather Michael Sheahan was Cook County sheriff in Illinois, and her mother is a Cook County circuit judge. Her parents said their daughter sought to follow the family tradition of public service.
“We are immensely proud that Eileen spent a lifetime of giving to others and continues that legacy with the gift of life by being an organ donor,” her parents said.
Sheahan was set to graduate from the University of Michigan in May with a degree in economics. Her grandfather remembered driving her to a train to head back to Ann Arbor for the Michigan-Ohio State football game, and the wide-ranging conversation they had.
“She was at a great point in her life,” he said. “It is so sad it was cut short, but her smile and laughter will be remembered by her family and friends forever.”
Prior to coming to UM, she attended the St. Joan of Arc grade school in Evanston and Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois. Even though Sheahan was a strong student, she did not brag about it, Caplice said.
“Eileen was a beautiful and accomplished young lady who was looking forward to graduation, had nearly straight A’s and a job waiting for her when she was finished with school,” her aunt said. “However she was also humble and self-deprecating, which only made her more endearing.”
While at the University of Michigan, Sheahan was a student ambassador and an involved member of her sorority. One of her sisters Tessa Weinberger said Sheahan “touched everyone with her presence. Martz and Aretakis also remembered a trip they took Portugal with her.
“We were on a boat cruise with our friends and just Eileen and I went to sit inside to warm up,” Aretakis said. “We sat inside and chatted about our lives, the future, and how truly blessed we were to be abroad together.”
“I am so grateful we were able to travel the world and share the time that we had,” Martz said. “Every minute with Eileen was a minute well-spent.”
University of Michigan Dean of Students Laura Blake Jones said the campus mourns Sheahan’s death.
“We send our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends, classmates and all who knew her,” Jones said.
Those seeking support from the news may contact the university’s Counseling and Psychological Services, as well as the Dean of Students Office and the Faculty and Staff Counseling and Consultation Office, Jones said.
Sheahan loved spending quality time with her whole extended family, her parents said, adding she will be remembered for being an amazing big sister, best friend and role model.
“Eileen will be eternally loved and missed by all who were lucky enough to know her,” her parents said.
There will be a visitation for Sheahan at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Donnellan Family Funeral Home in Skokie, Illinois. The funeral is 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5, at Old Saint Patrick’s Church in Chicago.
In lieu of flowers, family is requesting donations by made to The Eileen Sheahan Memorial Scholarship at The Academy at St. Joan of Arc grade school in Evanston or to Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois.
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How to register to vote in Michigan: Step-by-step guide
Registering to vote in Michigan is simple and can be done online, by mail, or in person, depending on how close you are to Election Day.
In Michigan’s Tuesday, Aug. 4 primary, voters will set the stage for the November general election, picking the Democratic and Republican nominees who will face off in the fall in major races, including nationally watched U.S. Senate and governor’s races.
Here’s a look at what’s on the ballot:
Key races on Michigan’s primary ballot
- Governor: Gov. Gretchen Whitmer cannot run again due to term limits. The Democratic primary includes Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson. The Republican primary includes former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, U.S. Rep. John James, of Shelby Township and businessman Perry Johnson. (Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt, R-Porter Township, is on the ballot, but he has dropped out of the race and endorsed James.)
- U.S. Senate: The Democratic primary to represent Michigan in the U.S. Senate includes former Wayne County and Detroit health director Abdul El-Sayed and U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, of Birmingham. (State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, dropped out of the race but still appears on the ballot.) The GOP primary is uncontested, with only former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, of White Lake, on the ballot. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, decided not to seek reelection, creating an open race to fill his seat.
- U.S. House of Representatives: Michigan has 13 congressional districts. Incumbents are seeking reelection in all but two of them. With James running for governor, there is an open race to fill his seat for Michigan’s 10th Congressional District. (Republican Robert Lulgjuraj – a Macomb County prosecutor – has ended his campaign in the 10th District, but his name still appears on the ballot.) There is also an open seat for Michigan’s 11th Congressional District, with Stevens running for U.S. Senate.
- Michigan Senate: All 38 seats in the Michigan Senate are up for election this year. Some metro Detroit voters will vote for the first time in newly drawn districts following court-ordered changes.
- Michigan House of Representatives: All 110 seats in the Michigan House of Representatives are also up for election this year.
- Local races and proposals: Voters across the state will also weigh in on races for local offices and proposals.
You can’t vote in both primaries
Unlike presidential primaries in Michigan, voters in the state do not need to request a specific party’s ballot to vote in the upcoming primary. The partisan section of the August primary ballot features Democratic and Republican sections. Voters must pick one party’s primary. For instance, a voter cannot vote for a Democrat in the U.S. Senate primary and a Republican in the gubernatorial primary.
Where can I find a sample ballot?
Michigan voters can go to michigan.gov/vote and click on “What’s on the ballot?” where they will be directed to a page to enter details about their voting jurisdiction to view a sample ballot. Alternatively, they can enter their voter information on the “Am I registered page?” to view a “Ballot preview.”
When can I vote in Michigan’s election?
Michigan voters can request an absentee ballot now. Early voting will run statewide Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, Aug. 2, but communities may offer longer early voting periods. Check out the “Where do I go to Early Vote?” page on michigan.gov/vote to find early voting locations.
Voters can also vote in person on Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters in line to vote by 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters voting absentee must return their ballot by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Military and overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day will still count.
Where is my polling place?
Voters can find their polling place at michigan.gov/vote and head to the “Where is my polling place?” page and enter their voter details.
Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743.
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel was in Kalamazoo on Thursday to discuss rising energy prices in the state.
She is pointing the finger at the Trump administration, and the federal push to keep a local coal plant in operation.
J.H. Campbell Plant in West Olive was built in the 1960s, and was planned to close down. Nessel said it’s costing Michiganders every day.
“Consumers Energy cannot use long-term coal contracts to save money, and the aging facility requires extensive repairs, so the plant costs some more to operate than it could ever recoup in profits,” Nessel said.
“And that’s a whopping $615,000 loss every single day that that plant is forced to stay open,” she added.
The U.S. Department of Energy issued another emergency order in May keeping the facility online through mid-August. The plant had originally been scheduled to close in May 2025.
The Department of Energy said the decision is centered on energy reliability, though Nessel said coal-fired plants are a major cause of climate change.
“I think since we’re here to talk in part about the J. H. Campbell plant, it’s worthy to note that coal fired plants are the single single largest source of emissions that cause and create climate change, such as what’s affecting us right now,” Nessel said in regards to the hazardous pollutants that blanketed most of Michigan on Thursday.
Michigan
Michigan health expert talks impact of Canadian wildfire smoke: There’s really a long list of who is at risk”
The current air quality in Michigan has doctors, especially cardiologists, concerned for their patients.
Dr. Herb Aronow, the chair of heart and vascular health at Henry Ford Health, says unhealthy air affects everyone with heart and vascular diseases, even those who haven’t been diagnosed yet.
“There’s really a long list of who is at risk,” said Aronow.
That’s why Aronow wants people to be aware and prepared. While many may think breathing in unhealthy air will only impact your lungs, Aronow says wildfires produce microscopic particles that can get into your blood.
“Once they are there, they create problems with inflammation and other mechanisms and we all know inflammation leads to heart disease and can lead to those with heart disease to have events,” said Aronow.
Aronow says this could lead to someone needing emergency care, but there are ways to protect yourself.
“If you have a symptom that’s suspicious for heart disease, you need to seek attention immediately, and more often than not, that’s means you need to call 911,” said Aronow.
The best way to avoid harmful air is to stay in an air-conditioned space. If you have an indoor air filter that can also reduce the poor air coming into your home.
“If you already have heart or blood vessel disease and you need to be outdoors for some reason is that you can wear a N95 respirator an N95 mask. Those are very effective,” said Aronow.
If you must go outside, check the air quality at the location you are at or plan to visit.
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